Archived News:
Masthead Studios announces the launch of Earthrise, their post-apocalyptic, sci-fi MMORPG. Word is: "Earthrise is available for purchase digitally at www.play-earthrise.com and through select distribution partners. Players who buy the game from the official site ( www.play-earthrise.com) will receive the special Exemplar Armor Set, manufactured in the very nanoforges of Masthead Studios." Here's a bit on the game: Earthrise is a post-apocalyptic, sci-fi MMORPG set in the distant future. Featuring a unique skill-based advancement system and player-driven economy, as well as extensive, meaningful player-vs.-player combat, Earthrise gives players countless options to forge their destiny through its sandbox-style game mechanics. Whether a noble soldier in the raging conflict between the Continoma and the Noir, a criminal hiding from the law, or a world-renowned engineer whose power extends into intricate trade and politics, players’ actions will echo throughout the game world. Visit www.play-earthrise.com to learn more.
A February State of the Game Letter on the Fallen Earth Forums has an update on what's going on in the post-apocalyptic MMORPG. Here's word on their plans: "The next patch, which will hit the PTS around the middle of February, will include skill and mutation changes, Scavenger Bosses, a large content area on the way to Sector 4 and several economy changes. Their appearance on the live server will depend on both internal and PTS testing." Thanks Gameplay Monthly.
GamesIndustry.biz (registration required) has third quarter financial results for SEGA Sammy Holdings, where sales and profits were both up: "The overall corporation saw sales rise by 8.7 per cent to ¥310 billion ($3.8 billion), while profit was up significantly, by 118.2 per cent to ¥63.0 billion ($772 million)." They also offer the company's future outlook: "For the full year the company is forecasting overall revenues of ¥410 billion ($5.0 billion), which would be up 6.6 per cent over the previous year; and ¥37.5 billion ($460 million) in net income, representing growth of 77 per cent. Earnings per share have been estimated at ¥147.44 ($1.81)."
A post on bit-gamer.net outlines how to enable multi-sample anti-aliasing in Dead Space 2. The article discusses performance and offers instructions for both NVIDIA and AMD/ATI owners.
A new Star Wars: The Old Republic Developer Blog goes into the design of flashpoints, the recently revealed story-driven adventures in the upcoming MMORPG. They explain their approach to flashpoints, how they are built, and how they differ from other gameplay. Word is: "Flashpoints also feature some of the toughest combat challenges in the game. Flashpoints in The Old Republic will require a full group of players to succeed."
This trailer from Magic: The Gathering - Tactics shows off the use of Green Mana in the free-to-play tactical strategy game. Word is: "the gameplay trailer showcases how players can beckon regenerative spells and massive beasts on to the tactical battlefield to trample opponents." The clip is embedded below. Continue here to read the full story.
Another new patch for Magicka is now available on Steam to automatically update the action/adventure game with more bug fixes and balance changes. Here are the patch notes. Continue here to read the full story.
A new unofficial patch for the Precursors is now available to update the science-fiction first-person shooter to version 1.3. Word is: "It was renamed from Unofficial English Translation Patch to Unofficial Patch because it works on both Russian and English versions of the game. In fact it is planned that the next official patch for the English version from GFI will be based on it, so please report any critical issues or mission bugs." The download is available on The Patches Scrolls, and the change list follows. Continue here to read the full story.
The Eve of Destruction Website now offers version 2.30 of EoD Classic, the Vietnam War modification for Battlefield 1942. The new version includes new maps, reworked maps, new vehicles, new weapons, and more, all outlined in the change log. Thanks Ant via Planet Battlefield.
Direct2Drive offers 15% off their "hottest selling titles" with the promo code "snowblows".
- AI War: Children of Neinzul on Impulse. Save 60%.
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- Fallen Earth: Blood Sports on Impulse. Save 50%.
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Still on sale (previously reported). Continue here to read the full story.
Martyn Brown has parted ways with Team17, the U.K.-based developer he helped found 20 years ago. Brown announced his departure on his Facebook page, reports GamesIndustry.biz (registration required). "Ok, I can finally announce that I left Team17," Brown wrote. "I had an amazing 20 year ride and whilst it's the end of a truly enjoyable period of my life, it equally signals the start of a really exciting new one." They spoke with Brown, who now refers to himself as an "Independent Video Game Consultant," but he was unwilling to discuss his plans further, nor did he answer a question about the status of his 25% stake in Worms and Alien Breed developer.
An announcement in the Primal Carnage Forum unveils a partnership between NVIDIA graphics card manufacturer EVGA and Lukewarm Media, the developer of this upcoming multiplayer shooter based on combat between humans and dinosaurs. Word is: "By using Lukewarm Media's 'Primal Carnage' game and EVGA's top of the line hardware the partnership aims to create a graphically stunning product that pushes the boundaries of current video game technology." The news is accompanied by a new trailer with pre-alpha Footage of the T-Rex in the game. Here's what they say about that: "All of the footage you see here is recorded from actual gameplay but is subject to a lot of change (for the better!) as our development cycle progresses."
Activision and Treyarch announce that a double XP weekend is now underway for Call of Duty: Black Ops on all platforms. Here's word: We wanted to let you know that Treyarch is hosting their first Double XP multiplayer weekend starting at 10:00am Pacific, Friday, February 4th through 8:00am Pacific, Monday, February 7th. Anyone playing in multiplayer matches on the Xbox 360, PS3, Wii or PC versions of Call of Duty: Black Ops will earn double XP rewards and level up.
The Bethesda Blog announces that the Xbox exclusivity of the Dead Money DLC for Fallout: New Vegas is concluding, and the pack will be released for Windows via Direct2Drive and PlayStation 3 via PSN on February 22. They also announce plans for three more DLC packs which will launch simultaneously on all three platforms: This morning we’ve announced that Dead Money, the first game add-on for Fallout: New Vegas, is coming to PlayStation 3 (via PSN) and PC (via Steam and Direct2Drive) on Tuesday, February 22nd. Additionally, we will be releasing three additional add-on packs in the coming months. These packs will launch simultaneously on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC.
More details to come.
A fourth Skillisodes trailer from Bulletstorm shows off more of the rewards for players who "kill with skill" in this first-person shooter in the works at People Can Fly and Epic Games. Three new combo moves are demonstrated: Fireworks, Letterbomb, and Breakdance. Here's the embedded clip. Continue here to read the full story.
The Battlefield Blog has some of the promised new details on Battlefield 3, saying the next installment in DICE's military shooter series is due for release this fall for Windows, Xbox 360, and PlayStation 3. The update calls this the "true successor to Battlefield 2," saying it will have full single-player and co-op campaigns as well as 64-player (on the PC) multiplayer, as well as the return of jets and (wait for it) prone. They also offer a teaser trailer, and promise more details throughout this month in magazine coverage, starting with the new issue of Game Informer, where they have word on the game's use of DICE's new game engine: "it wasn't until the company developed the powerful new Frostbite 2 engine that it felt all the pieces were in place to create a proper follow-up. Armed with powerful upgrades like deferred rendering, real-time radiosity, a new animation system borrowed from the EA Sports label, and an exponential leap in destructibility, executive producer Patrick Bach dubs Frostbite 2 'the best piece of technology on the market when it comes to building games'." In a bold move, the Battlefield 3 Website offers preorders of the limited edition without yet revealing what it includes.
MCV has word that May 24 is the global release date for Dirt 3, Codemasters' upcoming off-road racing sequel. They note this means the game will be out everywhere on a Tuesday, the favored day for media releases in North America. A couple of new screenshots celebrate the news.
Arcen Games announces A Valley Without Wind, a procedurally generated action/adventure game in the works for release this year for Windows and OS X. A product section for the game has more details along with some screenshots, and this trailer offers some animations and music. Here's a bit on the game: AVWW is a complete departure from what Arcen has previously developed in terms of genre. Set in a post-ice-age world in the distant future, the game focuses on survival and exploration. As a random survivor of this harsh world, you decide what impact to make on it. In fact, nearly anything you do will shape your world in some way. Span regions, even continents if you desire. Form settlements and build shelters for safer travel. Map your world, and face its many dangers. Being procedurally-generated [sic], the world is unique for each individual player and it literally goes on forever. No two worlds are the same, and your world permanently forms only as you discover it. Explore, scavenge, craft, cast (yup, there's magic), and fend off foes in a variety of ways. Better your world by aiding other survivors and gaining their help. Or don't, kill everyone in sight and deal with the consequences. It's all up to you.
A new Pride of Nations trailer shows off this historical strategy game set during the 19th century that's in development at AGEOD/Paradox France. Word is: "Players take control of a country and guide it through industrialization, military conquest, and colonization. Eight nations are playable in single-player and multiplayer – USA, Great Britain, Germany, France, Japan, Russia, Austria-Hungary and Italy."
Gamasutra - Minecraft And The Question Of Luck.
The first reason is that it is a solid game. The balance of activity versus threat, the ability to create almost anything that you can imagine, and the charm of the game’s blocky style all capture attention and imagination. It’s a game of experimentation and creativity that frequently delivers many small wins to the player, but without being brash about it, and in doing so it tends to form at least a connection level of engagement in the player.
Passionately Lacking Conviction - All Work and No Play, Make RTS a Dull Genre... Thanks Ant.
Anyone else get that feeling when playing any of the recent mainstream RTS games? It was novel at first. But now, it is work. When you are playing anything but "no rush 5 minutes, n00b game"s, be it single player missions or multi player matches, you are building the base because you have to. Because it is your only way to build up an army. And, for the most part, you do it in a time constraint, fearing the coming onslaught of Red Helmeted Fanatic Zerglings under strict orders from Saruman to wipe you off the face of Middle Tib Sara.
It's a chore on your way to the fight. Some might even go as far as calling it a hindrance.
Ars Technica - Why Dead Space 2 is a direct attack on Scientology.
Scientology puts great importance on the sale of this material, just as Dead Space presents the Church of Unitology as heavily pushing its own books. Take a look at both screenshots to see the similarity in the aesthetics of the books in question, and the science-fiction styles of the covers. The look of Unitology was clearly lifted wholesale from Scientologist texts and products.
Happy Groundhog Day, as today is… no wait, just kidding. As I mentioned last night, yesterday was the intersection of two running gags here, as the Chinese New Year and the day after Groundhog Day converged ( this should explain that for those unfamiliar). Now I have to figure out why I keep waking up to Sonny and Cher on the clock radio.
R.I.P.: 'Last Tango in Paris' actress Maria Schneider had a turbulent life.
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